Many-colored Chaco Finch

Remarkably plumaged terrestrial bird of lowland and foothill broadleaf forests, most often encountered on trails and roadsides in the early morning. Male blue-gray with a bright red face and long, glossy black tail. Namesake “fire back”, a splotch of bright iridescent coloration on the rump, is difficult to see. Female brown with black-and-white banded wings and smaller red facial skin patch. Similar female Silver Pheasant lacks prominent wing barring. Male whistles loudly to attract females.

Long-tailed little bird of dry forest and scrub in northwest Mexico. Found as singles, pairs, or family groups, usually foraging at low to middle levels. Breeding plumage male (March–August) has black cap, but other plumages very similar to Blue-gray Gnatcatcher, a common migrant throughout the range of Black-capped. These species best separated by call note: Black-capped has lower and rougher call than mew of Blue-gray. Also note Blue-gray often has a pinkish base to its smaller bill (gray on Black-capped), a more distinct white eyering (face a little more "open" on Black-capped), and a shorter, less strongly graduated tail.

Small black-and-white eagle. Has a compact, powerful shape and the hint of a crest. The upperparts are black and the underparts very white except for black flanks. In flight, the front of the underside of the wing is solidly black. Found in humid forest. Secretive; rarely soars. Calls include a loud, repeated “kwe-kwe-yaaa” and a simple rising whistle. Similar to other hawk-eagles, but lacks streaking or spotting on the underparts. Easily separated in flight, when Cassin’s Hawk-Eagle shows a solid black patch across the front of the underwing.